Survey shows majority of motorists would change route to avoid tolls

A majority of motorists would change their travel route to avoid new road tolls, according to a new survey published today.

The survey of over 13,000 drivers conducted by the AA found that 60% of respondents would take an alternate route to avoid having to pay a new toll.

The organisation is warning that their survey shows that extensive traffic congestion will occur if the Government goes ahead with introducing new tolls.

The National Roads Authority is conducting a feasability study on the introduction of tolls along the entire length of the M50 in Dublin and not just at the Westlink bridge.

The AA is now calling on Transport Minister Leo Varadkar to halt the plan.

The company said the survey results show that proposals for new tolls on the M50 would do "much more harm than good" as they would cause additional traffic to avoid the motorway and re-congest suburbs like Sandyford, Dundrum and Blanchardstown instead.

“To apply a toll on the entire length of the M50 would be an act of traffic planning madness.” said AA spokesperson Conor Faughnan.

“Tolls cause traffic to divert. This is a simple fact of life that neither the government nor the NRA can ignore. To apply a toll to the M50, which was built as a by-pass in order to relieve the congested suburbs, would have the effect of immediately channelling traffic back onto those unsuitable suburban roads.”